ENGLISH FOR

RESEARCH
PAPER WRITING
Topic: Breaking up long sentences
 IMPORTANCE
Long Sentence Short Sentence

Hard to understand Easy to understand

More than one time reading is necessary to One time reading is sufficient to understand
understand its meaning. its meaning.

Low readers attraction. High readers attraction.

High chance of misunderstood. Negligible chance of misunderstood.

Lower chance of acceptance by referee. Higher chance of acceptance by referee.

 EXAMPLE
Long Sentence
Fortunately PM Modi has band big currency
such as 500 & 1000 rupee note that’s why the
abolition of corruption is approved in india,
but unfortunately many corrupted leaders and
persons are protested on mass media that is,
it is wrong for them because of they dug their
heavy currency at anonymous place.
Short Sentence
Fortunately, PM Modi has band big currency
such as 500 & 1000 rupee note.
Government of India has approved the same
to abolition of corruption.
Unfortunately, many corrupt leaders and
persons are protested on mass media.
It is wrong for them because of they dug their
currency at anonymous place.
 LONG SENTENCE STRUCTURE.

Long Sentences contains one or more of the following.

1. A link word or phrases. e.g. And, but, in fact,
although, while, due to etc.
2. Relative clause.
3. One or more semicolon (;) or colon (:), or a lot of
commas(,).
4. Parenthesis.
 1. A LINK WORD OR PHRASE-USE
Sr. No. Word/Phrase Use

1. And 1. To join two words, two verbs or two nouns.

2. To add additional information

2. As well as To add additional information

3. Although, on the Link words that compare and contrast

other hand, however

4. Because, since, as, in Link words that give explanations

fact

5. owing to, due to, To explain the reasons for ‘something’ that has just been mentioned or is about to be mentioned.
as a result of,
consequently, thus
 1. A LINK WORD OR PHRASE-EXAMPLE
Sr. Word/ Long Sentence Breaking long Sentence
No. Phrase
1. And We're in touch with MEA and high officials to see that all We're in touch with MEA and high officials to see that all
students and worker are brought back, and we have appointed a students and worker are brought back. We have appointed a
Nodal Officer and toll free number issued, and I spoke with Nodal Officer, toll free number issued. I spoke with some
some students and their parents yesterday, and Our Govt will students and their parents yesterday. Our Govt will provide
provide all possible help. all possible help

2. As well This finding could be explained by the This finding could be explained by the
as specific properties of gold, silver and specific properties of gold, silver and
platinum as well as by the conditions in platinum. Another explanation could be
which these metals were found, for example the conditions in which these metals were found, for
silver was found in ... example silver was found in ...

3. Although The sale of gold in India were comparable to the sale in China The sale of gold in india were comparable to the sale in
, on the in the previous years, on the other hand the sale of silver were china in the previous years. On the other hand, the sale of
other much lower in India with respect to the previous years. silver were much lower in india with respect to the previous
hand, years.
however

4. Because, The chemical characterization of organic paint materials in The chemical characterization of organic paint materials in
since, as, works of art is of great interest in terms of conservation, works of art is of great interest in terms of conservation.
in fact because / since / as the organic components of the paint layer This is because / In fact the organic components of the paint
are particularly subject to degradation. layer are particularly subject to degradation.
 2. WHICH AND RELATIVE CLAUSES
which is used to add information
Sr. Word/Phrase Long Sentence Breaking long Sentence
No.

1. Which English, [which is] now spoken by more than
a billion people from all over the world, the
biggest populations being those in China and
India, and more recently in some ex British
colonies in Africa, is the world’s international
language.
English is the world’s international language. It is now
spoken by more than a billion people from all over the
world. The biggest populations are those in China and
India, and more recently in some ex British colonies
in Africa.
 3. ONE OR MORE SEMICOLON (;) OR COLON
(:), OR A LOT OF COMMAS(,).
Sr. Item Use Example
No
.
1. Semicolon (;) Semicolons (;) are not commonly used in modern Original:
English. The partners in the various projects are A, B and C, P
to use semicolons is to divide up short lists. and Q, X and Y and Z.
Revised:
The partners in the various projects are A, B and
C; P and Q; X; and Y and Z.
2. Colon (:) Semicolons (:) are not commonly used in modern English. Not Applicable

3. Commas commas are used in lists Original:

The partners in the various projects are A B C D E F.
Revised:
The partners in the various projects are A,B,C,D,E and F.
 4. PARENTHESIS

Sr. Item Use Example

No
.
1. (e.g. ………) To give short lists that act as examples Several members of the European Union (e.g. Spain,
France and German) have successfully
managed to reduce their top tax threshold from 42 to
38%.
 SUMMARY
To increase readability:
I. Don’t separate the subject from its verb using more than 8–10 words.
II. Avoid adding extra information to the end of the main clause, if the main clause
is already about 15–20 words long.
III. check to make sure that a sentence has a maximum of 30 words, and don’t use
more than three or four 30-word sentences in the whole paper
IV. consider beginning a new sentence if the original sentence is long and contains
one or more of the following (or equivalents): and, which, a link word, the –ing
form, in order to maximize the use of periods (.).
V. Use the minimum number of commas (,), avoid semicolons (;) and parentheses
VI. Don’t worry about repeating key words. If dividing up a long sentence into
shorter sentences means that you have to repeat key words, this is not a problem.
In fact, this repetition will increase the clarity of your writing